The 22nd century, also known as the Age of Advanced Technology.
The entire world underwent significant technological advancements in the past century.
Skyscrapers rising above the clouds offered breathtaking views of the sunset descending below the horizon and unparalleled views of the night sky filled with countless stars shimmering brightly.
Due to the exorbitant price, living in a residential tower became a symbol of wealth.
The most notable place in this city is called the [Palace in the Sky], an entertainment resort 8,000 meters above sea level featuring luxurious hotels, beach clubs and fine dining restaurants frequently visited by the most elite and affluent families in the world.
In terms of transportation, there were major advancements on the technology to build vehicles which convert between car and small aircrafts allowing personal air travel.
Robots became a part of daily life for citizens and in various sectors particularly in the service industry. It was a place where humans and machines coexist in harmony, a perfect utopia.
Contrary to her expectations, the portal which was supposed to bring Rune back to the past transported her into the far future.
There was no sign of the apocalypse her mom warned her about, instead Rune found herself in a futuristic world beyond imagination.
"No, there must be some kind of mistake. I'm not supposed to be here. I need to go back to the past"
The only solution is to find another portal but where can I even find one?
There was one at the aquarium and another one at the park. How does a portal appear in the first place? I don't have any other clues.
The sun will set soon and I don't have even a place to stay tonight. What should I do now?
"Are you okay?"
The young man sitting at the table outside the cafe asked Rune whose face looked quite pale.
Looking closely, the young man with black hair and golden eyes wearing a sleek grey blazer and white polo seemed out of place compared to the cyber fashion most people were wearing in the streets earlier. Above all, he was the only one without VR glasses.
Maybe he is also from the past?
Although there were a few vacant seats in the cafe, he persuaded me to sit at his table.
"You don't look too well. Why don't you take a seat first and rest?"
The young man smiled gently. Although, he seemed like a kind and friendly person at first glance, there was a subtle coldness in his attitude.
Rather than the look of concern, it was more of a curious gaze.
***************
In the 22nd century, everyone became accustomed to wearing Smart Glasses. Due to its sleek appearance and lightweight, the vast majority of people wear them during meals and even while inside their homes.
Smart glasses features many convenient functions such as web browsing, map navigation and contactless payment. Most notably, it allowed people to communicate without saying a word.
This reached a point wherein it became extremely rare to talk with a person face to face.
Initially, Dan was surprised when a stranger without smart glasses suddenly approached him.
In fact, it's been more than 10 years since Dan saw someone who didn't wear smart glasses. This caught him off guard. He was compelled to answer even when the stranger asked him an unusual question, if this was earth and such.
He was curious to know whether this person was the same as him, an outcast of society.
*****************
Rune sat at the table and decided to explain her circumstances. She briefly scanned her surroundings.
Once Rune confirmed that no one was paying attention to them, she lowered her voice and spoke quietly with a serious but anxious face.
"Actually, I don't belong here. I came from 100 years ago"
"What?"
"I know it sounds unbelievable but it's the truth. After gaining a certain ability, I somehow ended up here."
"Do you need help? I know a good psychiatrist"
"What? No, I'm telling the truth"
Dan didn't seem to believe Rune at all. He looked quite skeptical.
In the first place, Rune never planned to reveal her secret to a stranger she just met.
However, Rune was at her limit. She was extremely exhausted and couldn't think rationally anymore.
After all, these past two days were a series of strange occurrences happening one after the other.
Even if it was dangerous to trust a complete stranger, Rune didn't have any other choice. This person was the only one willing to listen to her and might possibly even help her return back to the past.
Rune opened her messy backpack filled with various random items.
[Let's see. . I have 5 books, a memory eraser and a bunch of snacks.]
Rune tried to find something which can prove that she came from the past.
Earlier, Rune saw Dan reading a book so it's probably safe to assume books still exist in this era.
The next item is the memory eraser, however this item is far too dangerous since there's a possibility of accidentally erasing his memories.
The only thing left were the snacks Rune bought at the supermarket with Nessa and Mia. These products might already be phased out in this era. Furthermore, the expiration dates indicated in the snacks can serve as proof.
Rune grabbed a few snacks and placed them on the table.
"These are snacks from the past"
"It's true that I haven't seen these before but there are hundreds of new snacks produced by companies every year"
"Look at the expiration date. It's 2016, right?"
"Well, maybe it's just a misprint"
Although Dan held interest in history, he remained skeptical of this person claiming to be from 100 years ago.
Rune suddenly remembered the receipt dated 2026 which might be more convincing.
While scouring her bag, Rune placed a few books at the table.
As an avid reader, Dan curiously glanced at the title of the book.
His eyes widened in shock.
"No way. . I-is this the final volume of Shipping Wars?"
"Oh, you know Shipping Wars?"
"This book was supposedly out of print 80 years ago. Where did you get this?"
"Do you believe me now?"